Selective speed mechanism and controlling device therefor.



c; P. BURT; SELECTIVE SPEED MECHANISM AND CONTROLLING DEVICE THEREFOR.APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1914.

1,1. 33,925. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 20, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20 1914.

1,133,925.. Patented Mar..30, 1915.

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QTWMW TW C. P. BURT.

SELECTIVE SPEED MECHANISM AND CONTROLLING DEVICE THEREFOR.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1914.

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SELECTIVE SPEED MECHANISM AND CONTROLLING DEVICE THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed January 20, 1914. Serial No. 818,289.

To all wkom z't may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES P. BURT, acitizen of the United States, residing at- East Orange, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and mechanism and inarranging and in constructing the selective mechanism to be controlledby the main clutch mechanism and one by the other, so that no variationin speed may be had With the change speed mechanism without having firstreleased the main" clutch mechanism and restored the elements of thechange speed mechanism to their neutral or inoperative positions.

Other objects will appear and be better understood from thatembodiment'of my invention of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, inwhich Figure 1 is a detail contracted plan of the invention. Fig. 2 isan enlarged detail contracted plan of the selective mechanism for thechange speed mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of Fig. 2.Fig. 4 1s an enlarged detail plan of the change .speed mechanism. Fig. 5is a diagrammatic View of the controlling switch for the electricallycontrolled operating device. Fig. 6 1s a d1agrammatic view of theseveral circuits of the electrically controlled operating devices forthe change speed mechanism. Fig 7 is a detailvertical cross section ofthe driven shaft showing the clutch device in frontelevatlon. Fig. 8 isa detail longitudinal section of one part of the clutch mechanlsm. Fig.9 18 8 detail perspective of another part of the said clutchmechanism.Fig. 10 1s a detail perspective of the parts of the locklng device.Figs; 11to 14 inclusive are detalled vlews of features of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 A indicates generallythe change speed mechanism, Bthe mechanical part, and C the electrical part of the change speedoperating device.

5 indicates the casing which contains the change speed mechanism andalso the mechanism which transmits motion from the motor (not shown) tothe driving axle (not shown). This casing is suitably adapted forconnection to any desirable part of the vehicle and may be of anypreferred construction and formed of any suitable material. Bypreference the casing is rendered oiltight so that the parts whichoperate therein, may run in oil or other suitable lubricant, and inconstructing thecasing care is given to render the operations ofintroducing lubricant thereinto and draining the same therefrom,comparatively easy.

6 indicates the driving shaft and 7 the driven shaft of the change speedmechanism. As shown one portion of the driving shaft 6 is directed intothecasing 5 and is loosely connected with the propeller shaft 8, aportion of which is directed into the other end of the casing 5. It-willbe understood that the driving shaft 6 is'connected to the motor meshingwith the gear wheels 12, 13 and 1 1 loosely mounted on the driven shaft7, respectively efiect theproduction of what is commonly termed thehigh, intermediate and low speeds.

15 indicates the reversing car which is secured to a shaft 16 and whicmeshes with a gear 17 fast upon the driving shaft 6 and a gear wheel 18loose upon the driven shaft 7. I 19 and 20 indicate the transmissiongears the former of these being fastened to .the driven shaft 7 and thelatter fastened to the propeller shaft 8. I

The several gears previously indicated are preferably of theherring-bone type and are adopted for preventing longitudinaldisplacement of theloose gears on the driven shaft. Itwill be understoodhowever, that shaft 7, comprises a clutch element herein shown 1n theform of a pair of barrel "secslidably mounted in the tubular drivenshaft 7 7, and having associated therewith a plu ralit y of dogs 23which cooperate. with sockets 24 in the gear Wheels on the driven shaft7.

Each of the barrelmembers has a plurality of longitudinal slots orcavities, the number herein shown being six. These cavities are hereinindicated by 25 and are regularly spaced about the circumference of thedrumand are'deeper at the middle than at either end, and each has themiddle portion of its bottom surface parallel with the axis, whichmiddle portion at its opposite ends, joins sloping portions, whichsloping portions join surfaces parallel with the middle portion'butdisposed beyond the plane thereof and arranged at the opposite ends ofthe said member. y

The dogs 23 are disposed in the cavities 25,' the said dogs beingloosely mounted in thecavities with their outer ends projecting beyondthe cavities and arranged so as to move radially of the barrel. The dogsare set in alinement with slots cut in the. tubular shaft 7 and inalinement with the sockets 24 in the gear wheels on the driven shaft 7.Plates 26-26. suitably fastened to the opposite ends of the barrels 21and 22 are arranged so as to abut the dogs upon the proper positioningof any set of these in the sockets-of either companion wheel and thusfunction to prevent any displacement ofthe dogs from the barrel membersand in a sense .to limit the throwv of longitudinal movement of the saidbarrel members.

Referring now to the drawings it will be observed that the cavities arecontracted along the outer portions of their side walls while the lowerportions of the dogs are flared as indicated by 27. Since the do projectinto the slots in'the driven shaft it is evident that the dogs and thebarrels must rotate as a unit with the said shaft.

The fact that the teeth project into the slots in the tubular shaft,prevents longitudinal .movement of the teeth when the barrels are n slidlongitudinally of the shaft 7. Now by virtue of theconstruction of thecavities and the dogs the sloping surfaces of the bottoms 'of thecavities operate to cam the dogs out through the slots 1n the shaft andinto the sockets of the wheels on the said shaft 7,

that is, when the said barrels are moved in one direction from theneutral and upon re- 'storing the said barrels to their neutralpositions the side walls of the said cavities operate as a dove-tail toretract or withdraw the dogs. When the barrels are inneutral position.the ends of the dogs are clear of the sockets in the gear wheels on thedriven shaft 7,-so that whatever motion there may be had on the part ofthe drive sha'ft'6 will notbe transmitted to the driven shaft.

When each of the barrels is arranged to be moved independently of theother and when one barrel is arranged to operate the dogs for the highand intermediate and the other' barrel for the low and reverse and thelength of each cavity in each barrel is so proportioned to the thicknessof the dogs therein, as to eflect the projecting-and retracting of thesaid dogs successively upon one reciprocation of the barrel, clearlythen, each set of dogs may be directed into engagement with itscompanion gear wheel without effecting corresponding connection betweenthe other. sets and their respective gear 'wheels, all of which is'shownin Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will be understood, however, that thissimply illustrates an idealarrangement and many obvious changes andespecially with respect to-the number of barrels employed, may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The selective mechanism includes a rod v 28 and a rod 29. The rod 28telescopes into the rod 29 and both rods are directed through an openingin the forward end of the casing 5 in axial alinement with the bar rels21 and 22. The rod 28 passes through on the head 32. The inner end ofthe rod 29 is provided with a circular headin the form of a flange 34which is loosely fitted in a counter-bore in the forward end of thebarrel 22 and a ball bearing 35 is providedin this counter-bore tofacilitate the turning of the barrel 22' on the head 34. In addition theaxial bore 30 of-the inner barrel 22 and to the rods 28 and 29 the saidoperating mechanism includes the bars 36 and 37. These bars are bypreference made non-cylindricaLin cross section and in the embodiof thebars 36 and 37 there is disposed a table 4Q which is fastened to anysuitable part of the vehicle preferably by means of bolts or theirequivalents which pass through openings 4141. Theforward end of thistable is upturned as indicated by 42, and has openings which looselyreceive the bars 36 and 37. This upstanding portion formsan abutment anda second abutment in the formv I '110 ment shown are disposedhorizontally and in parallelism, their rear end portions being of are.43. is provided intermediate of the ends 0 the table and has openingswhich loosely receive the bars 36 and 37. Arranged on each of the bars36 and 37 and disposed between the abutment 42 and the casing 43, areopposed compression springs 44 and 45, the adjacent ends of which bearon rings 46 carried by the bars 36 and 37. In length these springs areso proportioned as to bear on the rings 46 and the abutment 42 andcasing 43 when the parts of the selective speed mechanism are atneutral. In such position the springs are relaxed but when either bar ismoved in one direction one of the springs carried thereby will becompressed, and when moved in the other direction the other springcarried by the bar will be compressed. In other words, the springscarried by each bar will be alternately compressednwhen the bars whichcarries them is recipiocated.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the bars 36 and 37 may be operatedeither electrically or mechanically. For efi'ecting the operation ofsaid bars electrically a pair of solenoids 47-47 is provided for eachbar. These solenoids surround the said bars and the units in each pairare opposed one to the other and all the solenoids are supported in ayoke 48 arranged on the table 40. The solenoids oneach bar have a commoncore 49 which core is fastened tothe bar and is of a length equalapproximately to one-half the combined lengths ofthe solenoid coils withwhich it is associated. In positioning the solenoids care is given todispose the cores on the bars so that when the elements of the selectivespeed mechanism are in neutral position, equal portions of each corewill extend into the coils with which it is associated. Obviously, withthis arrangement the energizing of any solenoid will efiect the movementin one direction of the bar surrounded thereby and the compression ofone of the springs surrounded by the said bar,

which spring will, upon the deenergizing of the said solenoid, restorethe core thereof to its normal position as 'hereinbefore stated, so thatwhen the solenoid opposed to the first-named solenoid, is energized, thebar will be moved a second time but in the opposite direction, whereuponthe other of the springs carried by the bar will be compressed andfunction to restore the solenoid core to its normal position when thesecond named solenoid is deenergized.

From the foregoing it .will have been observed that where a separatecircuit is provided for each solenoid so that any solenoid may beenergized independently of the others, the obtaining of the desiredspeed or movement of the vehicle in a reverse direction may be had byclosing the circuit through the proper solenoid.

the barrel 21 to the left in Fig. 4 and until the second set of dogs 23are projected into the sockets 24 of the gear wheel 13.

Again referring to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the moving of thebarrel 22 to the right in the said figure and until one of the sets ofdogs associated with the said barrel are projected into the sockets ofthe gear wheel 14, effects the obtaining of low speed, while the movingof the said barrel 22 to the left and until the other set of dogs are inengagement with the sockets 'in the wheel 18, reverses the direction ofmovement had by the vehicle. Since the rod 28 which is connected to thebar 38, operates the barrel 21 to bring to high and intermediate speeds,the solenoids which operate this rod will subsequently be referred to asthe high and intermediate speed solenoids.

These elements are shown in the lower parts offFigs. 1, 2 and 6 and arerespectively indicated by H and I. y The solenoids which eflect theoperation of the tubular rod 29, the bar 39 and the barrel 22 whichbrings about low speed and reverse, will hereinafter be referred to asthe low speed and reversing solenoids. These elements are shown in theupper part of Figs. 1, 2 and 6 and are respectively indicated by L andR.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of the solenoid circuits.The circuit of the high speed solenoid extends. by the wires 50 and 51,which are connected to'the opposite ends of the solenoid'coil, the wire51 being connected to a common return 52. and they wire 50 to a contactpoint 53 suitably arranged as shown in Fig. 5 in a casing 54 from whichit is insulated, the said casing 54 being. suitably arranged on thesteering wheel 55. The circuit of the intermediate speed solenoidextendsby the wires 56' and 57, these wires being connected to theopposite ends of the core of the solenoid and the former connected tothe return wire 52 and the latter to a contact 58 adjacent to thecontact 53 and insulated therefrom. and from the casing 54. 59 and 60indicate the circuit wires of the low speed solenoid; the latter ofthese wires is, connected to one terminal of the coil and to the return52, and the former to the other terminal of the coil and to a contact 61adjacent to the contact 58 and insulated from e said contact and fromthe casing 54. 62 and 63 indicate the circuit wires of the reversingsolenoid. These wires are con Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 mcluslve,

nected at one end to the terminals of the coil of the said solenoid andare connected at their opposite ends to the return wire 52 and to acontact 64 adjacent to the contact 61 and insulated therefrom and fromthe casing 54'. 65 indicates a suitable source of electric energy, suchas a battery of cells suitably arranged on the vehicle 7 (not shown).One terminal of thisbattery is connected by a wire 66 to a switch lever67 mounted in the casing 54 and arranged-so as to make contact with anyof the points 53, 58, 61 and 61. 68 indicates a line which connects theother terminal of the battery with the return wire 52, and 69 indicatesa master switch for controlling this line 68.

Obviously from the foregoing, when the switch lever 67 is moved from theneutral contact point 70 onto the adjacent contact 53, for instance, andupon the closing of the master switch 69 the circuit will be completedthrough the high speed solenoid, whereupon the movement of the armatureof that solenoid to the right in Fig. 2, will effect the positioning ofthe parts as shown in Fig. 4. And a like effect in point of movement ofone of the barrels 21 and 22 will be had when the said switch is movedonto any other of the contacts. As previously indicated the completingofany solenoid circuit depends on the closing of the master switch 69, Ihave found it desirable to construct and arrange this switch tocooperate with a lock so that the changing from one speed to another maynot be had until all parts of the speedchanging mechanism are moved intoneutral position.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the movable part M of the master switch 69 isconnected to one arm ofa bell crank 70 which is suitably connected toone of the operating parts of the ordinary 'Inain clutch mechanism ofthe vehicle. .Now when the said main clutch is active or thrown in.Referring now to Fig. 2 the movable part Mof the master switch 69 isconnectedto a main lock bolt '71 which passes through the casing 43previously mentioned and through alining slots or notches 72 in thelower edges of the bars 36 and 37. The main lock bolt 71 has an opening73which loosely receives one end of the bell crank 70 and is provided inits upper side with a recess or notch 74. In length this recess 741s soproportioned that it will occupy a position between the bars 36 and 37when the master switch is open. as shown in Fig. 2, and when sopositioned one portion of the lock bolt beyond one end of the recesswill be disposedin one of the notches 72 of the bar 37, while anotherportion of-the lock bolt beyond the other end of the recess will bedisposed in a notch in the bar 36. Manifestly, when the parts are soarranged the barsj38 and 39 with the parts connected thereto, Will berendered immovable, but uponclosing the switch to the position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2, the free end portion of the lock bolt 71 will beretracted from the notch in the barl37 and the recess 74 of the saidbolt will be moved into alinement with the bar 36, whereupon. either ofthe said bars may be operated.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be observed that each of the'bars36 37 has three of the notches 72 in its under-side.

These notches are disposed so that when thelock bolt 71 is entered intothe intermediate notches the parts of the selective speed mechanism willbe at neutral, and the notches in each bar are arranged with suchrelation to each other that a movement on the part of that bar for adistance equal to that between adjacent notches, will effect the desiredadjustment of the change speed mechanism and bring the desired notch onthat bar into alinement with the main lock 'bolt 71.

In addition to the main lock there is also provided a supplemental lockwhich operates automaticallyupon the selecting of any speed topositively lock the other parts of the speed changing mechanism againstoperation; or in other words, to hold them neutral until the partspreviously adjusted to. obtain the desired 'speed, have been.re-; storedto neutral position. In the embodiment shown this supplemental ltickcomprises a bolt 75 slidingly mounted in a suitgpposed lateral faceswith V-shaped notches as clearly shown in the drawings.

Now when the parts of the change speed mechanism are in the neutral thenotches 77 will be in alinement as-shown in Fig. 2, in which positionone end of the supplemental lock bolt 75, by virtue of its length, willbe out of the path of movement of one of the bars if its opposite end benested in the notch in the other bar. When the bars are neutral thedisposition of the ends of the supplemental lock bolt with respect toeither bar, willbe immaterial, because of the fact that the ends 76 aretapered or beveled and hence movement on the part of either bar willsimply have theeflectof moving the supplemental lock bolt laterally ifone end of the said lock boltbe arranged in the notch of that bar at thetime of its initial movement.

Again referring to Fig. 2 it will observed that the length of thesupplemental lock bolt is such that it corresponds to the distancebetween the bottom of the notch 77 in one bar andthe interrupted portionof the adjacent lateral surface in-the other bar.

As a consequence of this one of thebars 36-37 upon moving in eitherdirection and for instance, from the position shown in Fig. 2, willoperate to slide the supplemental locklbolt 75into the notch in theopposite bar. 'Whereupon, the interrupted lateral surface of theotherbar will bear 'upon the adjacent end of the bolt 75 and operate tohold this bar against movement in either direction Thus itwill be seenthat when the notches 77 areout of aline- -ment the bar operated toadjust the change speed mechanism, will hold, through the 'bolt 7 5, theother bar against movement in either direction,

The means for efiecting the operation of the selective mechanismmechanically, comprises a quadrant 78 which is suitably attached to anydesired portion of the vehicle.

- and in which there is fulcrumed one end of an. operating lever 79. Thelever is pro.

vided with the usual latch 80 which c0- operates with the notches 81 inthe upper end of the quadrant 78." The lever 79 is so mounted in thequadrant and the quadrant isso constructed as to permit of the leverbeing moved into engagement with either of the bars 36 and 37 and movedin. the required direction to efiect the desired operation of theselective mechanism.

' From the foregoing it will have been observed that. the lock mechanismis common tothe electrical and the mechanical operatin'g devices andthat either of these devices may be used withoutithe presence of theother.

The bell crank .70, the main lock bolt 71 and the master switch 69 areso proportioned that the first movement of the clutch pedal serves todisengage the mainclutch;

a further motion of the clutch pedal effects the closing of the masterswitch 69 and the withdrawal of the main lock bolt 71'and'releases thebars 36 and 37.

It will be seen that if the parts are so po- 6 sitioned that gear wheel12 is secured to the driven. shaft, as in Fig. 4, the rod 37 willhavebeen moved to the right and themain lock bolt will be in the left notch72 in the rod 37. Now if there be no change in the position of thecontrol switch lever 67, and

the clutch pedal be depressed, the mainclutch will be disengaged, butbefore the main lock bolt 71 is withdrawn from the notch 72 the masterswitch 69 will close the circuit-to the solenoid coil H and the wheel 12will remain connected to the driven shaft even though the main lock boltbe entirely withdrawn. 0n the other :hand, if the control switch leveris moved to the contact 61 and the clutch' pedal. be depressed, the mainclutch will be disengaged, the master switch will then be closed andcurrent will flow through the solenoid coilL. Thiscoil will 'then exertan effort to move the rod 36 to the right, but the movement of 36 willbe prevented by the lock 75. As soon as the main lock is withdrawn, byfurther movement of the clutch pedal, the spring 4:4 will cause the rod37 to move to the left and when 37 has reached the neutral position,

the'lock75 will slide over and allow the movement of the rod 36, The rod36 under the impulse of the solenoid L will move to the right and eflectthe connection of the Wheel 14 to the driven shaft thus connects ing thelow speed gear. I

What is claimed as new is: Y

1. In combination with a change speed mechanism a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, an electric selective device for 0perating thechange speed mechanism, locking means for the selective device, acircuit closer adapted when closed to effect the movement of theselective device from a normal to an abnormal position, and meansoperatively connecting the clutch operating means with the locking meansand the circuit closer whereby the locking means is moved to release theselective device and whereby the circuit closer is closed, subsequenttothe release of the clutch, by the clutch operating means. I

2'. In combination with a change. speed mechanism, a clutch, means foroperating cuit closer, and the final 'moveinent of the clutch operatingmeans releases the locking means from the selective device.

3. In combination with a change speed mechanism, a clutch, means foroperating the clutch, an electric selective device for operating thechange speed mechanism, locking means for the selective device, acircuit closer adapted when closed to efl'ect the movement of theselective device from a normal to an abnormal position, and meansoperatively connecting the clutch operating meanswith the locking meansand the cirthe clutch, an electric selective device for cuit-closerwhereby the initial movement of clutch inactive, theLintermcdiatemovement of the clutch operating means closes the cirthe clutchoperating means renders the cuit'and the .final movement of the clutchoperating means releases the locking means from the selective device,and the parts may return to normal positions in an order in-.

" movement of the selective device from a normal to an abnormalposition, and means operatively connecting the clutch operating.meanswith; the locking means and the circuit closer. Y

5.,In combination, a change speedmecha nisni, electrically controlleddevices for operating the said change speed mechanism, said'devicesincluding a plurality of bars, a manually operated switch forcontrolling a supply of current from a source of electric energy to theelectrically operated devices, and a locking device connectedltothesaidswitch and operable with the same and arranged so as to efiect thelocking of the said bars upon the o ening of the switch and theunlocking o the said bars upon the-closing of the switch.

6;,In combination with a change speed mechanism, a' clutch, means foroperating I the change speed mechanism, and a lock connected withthe-clutch and arranged to ,be moved therewithto lock the parts of thechange speed operating mechanism one to the other when the clutch isrendered active, and further arranged to be moved to efiect theunlocking of the parts of the said operatg mechanism when the clutch isrendered inactive 1 7. In combination with a change speed mechanism, aclutch, means for operating the change speed mechanism, a lock comnected with the clutch and arranged to be ,movedtherewith to lock theparts of the mac-nee change speed operating mechanism one'to the otherwhen the clutch is rendered active,

and further arranged to be moved to efl 'ect the unlocking of the'partsof the said operating mechanism when the clutch is rendered inactive,and a supplemental lock arranged to be operated by one of the parts ofthe change speed operating mechanism to lock another part of saidmechanism during the adjustment of the first mentioned part thereof. r A

8. In combination plurality of bars mounted for movement in.

the direction of their length, anda lock' disposed substantially atright angles to the bars and in operative relation thereto,

said lockbeing connected with the clutch and movable therewith-andarranged to lock 7 the bars one to the other when the clutch is with achange speed mechanism, a clutch, means for operating the change speedmechanism including a' rendered active, and further arranged to unlocktime said bars when the clutch is' rendered inactive. I

. 9. In combination with a changelspeed mechanism, a clutch, means foroperating the change speed mechanism including 1011-- gitudinallymovable bars, a lock arranged to' lock said bars ina determined neutralpcsition and in positions on either side of the said neutralpositicn','a connection between the clutch" and the lock for operatingthe lock to lock' the bars-when the clutch is? rendered active, andfurther arranged to un-- lock the bars when. the clutch is renderedinactive, and -means, including opposed;

springsarranged so as, to be potentialized by 'the movement of the barsin either di--- rection wherebyto effect automatically the restoring'ofthe bars to neutral upon the unlocking thereof. i In testimony whereof Iafiix ture in presence of twovwitnesses.

a CHARLES P. BURT. 'fWitnesses:

Jonn'A. I Gno. A. Brena.

position a a

